EDU - NEWSMAY - 2021 Volume: 36

@dbe_kzn kzn_education kzndoe kzndoe

STATESTATE

OF THEOF THE

ARTARTSCHOOLSSCHOOLS

CONTRIBUTING TEAM

2. EDITOR’S NOTE

3. THE GRAND OPENING OF ANTON LEMBEDE MST

5. PHOLELA SPECIAL SCHOOL

7. SAPPI DONATES ESSENTIAL ITEMS

9. OFFICIAL OPENING OF VICTOR DAITZ CENTER

10. HANDING OVER OF TABLETS TO SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

12. KZN CONTINUES TO EXCEL

13. OPEN AIR SPECIAL AWARDS CEREMONY

14. UMGUNGUNDLOVU DISTRICT AWARDS

15. FUNCTIONALITY MONITORING

16. MKHAMBATHINI MUNICIPALITY SCHOOLS ACHIEVEMENTS AWARDS

17. REVIEW OF THE ORGANOGRAM - CONSULTATION WITH UNIONS

18. EXTENDED BRANCH MANAGEMENT MEETING: CORPORATE SERVICE

19. ECD FUNCTION SHIFT FROM DSD TO DBE

20. OPERATION SUKUMA SAKHE

22. GALLERY

Editor- Sihle Mlotshwa

Writers- Sihle Mlotshwa- Mbali Zulu- Nomfundo Malinga- Zama Mkhize- Bongiswa Xulu- Lungelwa Ndlela- Sinethemba Bhengu

Photographers- Sibani Ngobese- Xolani Makhathini- Tumelo Machabe

Layout & Design- Xolane Bucibo

Mr Kwazi Mshengu

KZN MEC for EDUCATION

“One of the difficulties confronting educated Africans in South Africa is that of a choice of a career. When a white young man is considering his life’s work, he has a whole wide world to choose from a career. He can enter any profession he wishes as long as he has the ability to acquire the necessary qualification, not so for the African young man. The choice before him is very limited. For many a long year such a young man had only two choices open for him, either to preach or to teach – to enter the teaching profession or the ministry of the church. These are noble professions, but goodness knows not every African has neither the inclination no the necessary ability,” ZK Mathews wrote these words in the newspaper Imvo Zabantsundu in 1961.

During the times when ZK Mathews wrote his piece, preaching and teaching were the only careers of choice available to black people, unlike in our times where it is common for black people to enter into legal profession, medical profession, accounting profession and many other professions which are seen as relevant and noble by many.

As noble as professions in medicine, legal and accounting are, today’s economy requires that we break the mould and open the eyes of our learners to new possibilities, which is why the Department of Education in KZN is consumed by the mission to prepare learners for skills for the future.

The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal always strives to ensure that what ZK Mathews decried in the 1960s and what continued to be the feature of our education up to the 20th century, becomes the thing of the past. Through changing the outlook of the classroom by

introducing e learning and taking a complete break from black boards to smart white boards, the department wants learners not only to be part of the 4th Industrial Revolution, but to embrace it and be excited about it.

Our building of the state of the art schools like Anton Lembede School of Leadership and Innovation and Pholela Special School, speaks volumes of the department’s resolve to produce a learner who will not regurgitate what he/she has been taught, but who will use the knowledge given, to innovate and participate in the socio-economic development of our society.

This edition of Edu-News looks at the new generation schools that the department is building. The building of the schools mentioned above is a clear indication that the department reaffirms the classroom as the centrepiece of all its activities. The MEC is determined and clear that such schools are still going to be built throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is in the issue of Edu-News that we see the performance of the Class of 2020 being celebrated by Circuit Management Areas and schools. It can’t be forgotten that the Class of 2020 did well against the challenges visited upon the education sector by Covid 19. We will always remember the Class of 2020 as the resilient and a triumphant class.

Edu-News is your quarterly e-publication. Be part of it by alerting the editorial team of the developments in your districts and Circuit Management Areas. We want to document and celebrate the achievement of our leaners, educators and even our office based officials.Enjoy this edition. It is yours – be part of it.

SIHLE MLOTSHWA

EDITOR’S EDITOR’S NOTENOTE

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BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTUREBUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE

On the first day of the 2021 academic year, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala and MEC Kwazi Mshengu, officially opened the first of its kind Anton Lembede School of Leadership and Innovation, which is located at La Mercy, North of Durban.

The event was also attended by the HoD, Dr Enock Nzama, who was the Programme Director for the day, Minister of Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu (who came with the idea of building the school), the then Chair of the Portfolio Committee for Education, Jomo Sibiya, representative of the Lembede family, departmental officials and the first cohort of learners of the institution, who looked pristine in their school uniform.

Minister Mchunu said the school like Anton Lembede speaks to the direction that education in the whole of country needs to follow. Making his key note address, the Premier spoke highly of the institution, which costs the department more than R250 million with the capacity of 600 learners. “This school will focus on mathematics, science and technology and will produce learners who will be at the cutting edge of the Fourth

The grand opening of Anton Lembede The grand opening of Anton Lembede

Maths, Science and Technology AcademyMaths, Science and Technology AcademyIndustrial Revolution,” asserted the Premier.

MEC Mshengu announced that Anton Lembede MST Academy is also going to accept and subsidise highly gifted learners from indigent communities while 50% of learner population will pay school fees.

This school is the first of its This school is the first of its kind in the province and is kind in the province and is aimed at producing world aimed at producing world

class learners who will take class learners who will take full advantage of all the full advantage of all the opportunities available, opportunities available,

particularly as we embark particularly as we embark on the new era of the on the new era of the

fourth industrial revolutionfourth industrial revolution

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Minister Mchunu, Premier Zikalala and MEC

Mshengu cut the ribbon marking the official

opening of the school

The library at the newly opened Anton Lembede

Maths, Science and Technology Academy

Learners at the newly opened Anton Lembede Maths, Science and Technology Academy are

seen conducting experiments in the Science Laboratory

The KZN Premier, Mr Sihle Zikalala undertook a

walk-about and engaging learners

Learners at the Anton Lembede Maths, Science

and Technology Academy ready to start the

academic year

On 30 March, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala and MEC Kwazi Mshengu officially opened the state-of the-art Pholela Special School in Bulwer, under the Harry Gwala District.

The school which has a carrying capacity of 350 learners, costs the department more than R 220 million. In his remarks while introducing the Premier, the MEC said, “We want to give what is due to learners with special needs and we don’t want them to feel like a charity case

that is attended to, once everything else has been done.”

Premier Zikalala said the school is a cornerstone of,

Our vision for an inclusive Our vision for an inclusive education and training. education and training.

Such a system is geared to Such a system is geared to actively work to minimise actively work to minimise barriers to learning and barriers to learning and to meet the needs of all to meet the needs of all

learnerslearners

PHOLELA SPECIAL SCHOOL

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Opened In

Style

In an effort to provide some relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sappi donated items such as hand sanitizer, masks and boxes of Typek paper product to support the most vulnerable during these difficult times. This event took place on the 13th April 2021 at Sappi Show Research Centre, near Howick.

Delivering a keynote address, the Head of Department, Dr Enock Nzama commented, “The private sector continues to play a crucial role in supporting government in the fight against COVID-19 and we remain committed to working in collaboration with our partners to scale up our response to the

pandemic. On behalf of the Department we are extremely grateful to Sappi for this generous contribution,” said the HoD

Also present at the event was the executive of Sappi Southern Africa, Ms Mpho Lethoko who said in her address, “A contribution of this nature is also in line with Sappi’s philosophy of ABCD- Asset Based Community Development- where the company uses its assets, in this instance its products, to enable chosen stakeholders to further reach their goals. It also accentuates the fact that Sappi is a committed and caring anchor tenant in its rural – based communities.”

“The private sector “The private sector continues to play a continues to play a

crucial role in supporting crucial role in supporting government in the fight government in the fight

against COVID-19 and .....”against COVID-19 and .....”

S A P P IDONATES ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR COVID-19 RELIEFDONATES ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR COVID-19 RELIEF

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It was all smiles and joy when MEC Kwazi Mshengu together and the HoD, Dr Enoch Nzama officially opened the Victor Daitz Center for Innovation at Northwood Boys High School under Umlazi District, on the 08th of April 2021.

The HOD, who was also the Programme Director, welcomed everyone who was present as he also expressed his gratitude for the overall performance of the school in the 2020 National Senior Certificate exams.The MEC, who was the keynote speaker at the event said, “ From the onset , I want to express my delight at the fact that since our government made an announcement that the Forth Industrial Revolution(4IR) will now be a major part of our lives, we see a number of institutions doing things that seem to be

fully in support of this announcement. Having mentioned that we have set the ball rolling in as far as making conducive the environment for the teaching and learning of the subjects linked to 4IR, it is therefore pleasing to find ourselves in a school that has taken a giant step forward in this regard.” The MEC continued to say, “I have no doubt that the partnership with the Victor Daitz Foundation which has allowed you to expand your footprint in the innovation space, will, in the not so distant future, yield positive results. It is indeed a fact that you have, in your way, pioneered the area of Coding and Robotics by incorporating the flying of drones”.

Overall, the offical opening was a great success and Northwood Boys High School undertook to do even better.

VICTOR DAITZ

CENTRE FOR INNOVATIONCENTRE FOR INNOVATION

Official Opening

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VICTOR DAITZ

TIONTION HANDING OVER OF TABLETS TO SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

On 15 April, MEC Kwazi Mshengu together with MTN handed over 100 tablets to school principals from the Zululand District. The handover event took place at Belgrade, Phongola, under the Zululand District. The principals who were given tablets are some of the principals who have been trained on

the HR APP. Principals were not only given laptops, but a monthly data to enable them to effectively use their tablets. The principals thanked the MEC, MTN and the HoD for the laptops and undertook to use the gadgets to ensure that the HR APP becomes even more effective.

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KWAZULU - NATAL CONTINUES TO EXCEL

Open Air Special School held their 2020 NSC Special Awards on 26 February 2021, with the slogan: “I can and I

will”. The purpose of the event was to award and show recognition for the learner performance in the 2020 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Pride, joy and excitement filled the learners of Open Air as the school also celebrated the century of its existence. Umlazi District Director, Mr Ntokozo Cele gave a key-note address and acknowledged the top 5 learners who represented the school and the province in the NSC results. In his address, Mr Cele referred to the awardees as the shining stars of Umlazi District.

Angena Bhagwandeen, Langelihle Buthelezi, Nomfundo Maphumulo, Zekhethelo Mabuyakhulu, and Bright Makhanya are the top 5 learners in Umlazi who were awarded with laptops, trophies and headsets for

their achievements. During the event, Bright Makhanya who is one of the top

5, thanked his former teachers and referred to Open Air as the best school.

The day was concluded by Mr Noel Moodley, the principal of the school, who congratulated the 2020

NSC learners and also encouraged the Class of 2021 to work hard in order

to maintain the “great performance of the school.”

OPEN AIR OPEN AIR

SPECIAL SPECIAL

AWARDS AWARDS

CEREMONYCEREMONY

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The Class of 2020 will go down in history as one of the most resilient class, having faced the covid 19 pandemic and

triumphed. Against all odds uMgungundlovu District obtained 80,3% in the 2020 NSC examinations. This performance necessitated that a celebration be held to acknowledge teachers and learners that made this possible. The event took place on 14 April 2021 in Pietermaritzburg Girls High School, where a few gathered to celebrate because of the covid 19 protocols that had to be observed. The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) sponsored the event and Nonhlanhla Mkhize represented the organization. In his speech he said they are very pleased to see the kind of result that were obtained by the Class of 2020 in the district and that they will always support education

programs.Mr Siqhamo Mabinza Umgungundlovu District Director delivered the keynote address.

Our educators and Our educators and learners refused to learners refused to

despair. Our teachers despair. Our teachers motivated learners to not motivated learners to not give up even during the give up even during the

challenging times of covid challenging times of covid 19. We would like to honor 19. We would like to honor

the ground crew whose the ground crew whose names never make it to names never make it to

the headlines, yet they are the headlines, yet they are equally important. Without equally important. Without

their hard work and their hard work and dedication, we would have dedication, we would have

not obtained these very not obtained these very good resultsgood results

It was an all-round glitzy affair as learners lined up to receive their awards.

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UMGUNGUNDLOVU

DISTRICT AWARDS

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On 17 February 2021, MEC Kwazi Mshengu, visited 3 schools in Ilembe and King Cetshwayo Districts with the aim of conducting a school functionality monitoring visit and also to monitor the school safety protocols by ensuring that the COVID - 19 regulations were adhered to. The 3 schools that were visited were Lubisana Primary School under Ilembe District, Gingindlovu Primary and Isandlwana Secondary school under King Cetshwayo District.

During his visit, MEC Mshengu was accompanied by other directorates such as Curriculum Management and Delivery, Governance and Management, Learner Transport, Infrastructure Development, Communications and Human Resources who also made sure that all the needs of these schools were provided for.

FUNCTIONALITY MONITORING VISITS BY MEC MSHENGU

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The Department and Umkhambathini Municipality held matric excellence awards whose aim was to encourage the Class of 2021 and congratulate the Class of 2020 for their success. The Mkhambathini Municipality, Mayor Cllr E Ngcongo, Ward

3 Cllr Mrs Maphanga and Mr Dube Circuit Manager, presided over awards which were held at Camperdown Primary School Hall, on the 9th April 2021.

The Circuit Manager Mr Dube congratulated the Class of 2020 for their hard work as well as educators for their dedication. He said the 2020 matric class managed to make it through, despite the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Head of Communications, Mr Muzi Mahlambi delivered his speech and expressed his gratitude to the learners and educators for their hard work. He encouraged learners to put God first and added that, “every failed attempt is one step closer to success. Accept that in life at some point you will fail and lose but do not quit.”

Mr Ngcongo, the Mayor of Mkhambathini Municipality also congratulated the Class of 2020 and said that they were not expecting such amazing results due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but they are thankful for the learners and educators hard work.

MKHAMBATHINI MUNICIPALITY SCHOOLS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

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The Department, led by MEC, Kwazi Mshengu recently had a consultative meeting with teacher unions at the Provincial Teacher Training Academy (ex-Dokkies). The purpose of the meeting was for the department to present its organizational structure to the organized labour. There were 3 Unions represented at the meeting namely, the South African Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the National Teachers Union (NATU) and the National Professional Teachers’ Organization of South Africa (NAPTOSA).

The presentation of the structure was outlined as follows: analysis of current structure, roles and responsibilities of different tiers, current macro structure, framework for organizational review, sectorial strategic priorities, critical reflection of organizational priorities, proposed macro structure and the summary of comparative schedule.The proposed way forward was for the department to present their management plan to the next meeting.

REVIEW OF THE

ORGANOGRAM – CONSULTATION WITH

THE UNIONS

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The Branch: Corporate Management held a meeting on 8 April 2021 at the Provincial Teacher Training Academy which was chaired by the Deputy Director General for Corporate Management, Advocate Bheki Masuku.

The purpose of this gathering by the branch was to meet with its middle management before the end of the school term and to

discuss matters pertaining to monitoring, provision of PPEs, state of readiness, progress on skills audit, staffing and recruitment of personnel in schools, the use of state vehicles, skills development, e – submissions and the role played by the Branch in the overall performance of the department.

EXTENDED BRANCH MANAGEMENT

MEETING: CORPORATE

SERVICES

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On Wednesday 07 April 2021, The KZN Department of Education together with the KZN Department of Social Development held a meeting at the Provincial Teacher Training Academy on the shifting of Early Childhood Development (ECD) function from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Education.

The meeting was attended by the Head of Department, Dr E.V Nzama, who was also the Chairperson of the meeting, the HoD of

the Department of Social Development, Ms Vilakazi (who participated telephonically), Deputy Director Generals, Chief Financial Officers and Senior Managers from both departments.

The PowerPoint presentation was given by Mrs Mhlongo, Social Development Deputy Director General on the progress report of ECD programme. Both departments are meeting continuously to ensure that the shift becomes a success.

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION ENGAGES WITH THE DEPARTMENT

OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

FUNCTION SHIFT

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Ithimba loNgqongqoshe bonke bebevakashele isifunda saseThekwini ngaphansi kohlelo luka Operation Sukuma Sakhe okuhloswe ngalo ukuthola izingqinamba ezibambe ukuba intuthuko ingasheshi noma ingabonakali emphakathini. Loluhlelo lushayelwe nguNdunankulu wesiFundazwe umhlonishwa Sihle Zikalala mhla zingu 28 April 2021. uMphathiswa Kwazi Mshengu onguMphathiswa weZemfundo, ubejutshwe ukuba ayohlola kumphakathi wakwa Ward 103 kwaNyuswa.

Ekuseni ngovivi, uMhlonishwa nethimba lakhe bavakashele isikole sase Cliffdale Primary School beyohlola ukusebenza kwesikole kanye nomphakathi owakhele isikole okuyilapho afika wathola khona ukuthi kunenkinga yokungabibikho kwesikole esiyi High School esakhele umphakathi, lokho okuphoqa ukuthi abazali bezingane baphoqeleke ukuba bathathe izingane zabo bazise buqamama namakhaya abo. Umhlonishwa ube esedlulela ohlelweni lwesibili olwenziwa uhulumeni lokusabalalisa amanzi emphakathini wase Hillcrest namaphethelo, lapho afika wathola ukuthi ngempela uhulumeni wakwaZulu-Natali uyanakekela, umphakathi uzothola amanzi anele nahlanzekileyo ngasosonke isikhathi.

Ekhuluma emphakathini wakwa Ward103, uMphathiswa Mshengu uthe,”Kuyintokozo enkulu ukuba yingxenye yalomhlangano namhlanje sithunywe uNdunankulu ukuba sizoxoxa ndawonye sithole ukuthi ngabe umphakathi unaziphi izinqinamba ekuhlaleni ngaphansi kwalesisigceme sakwa103. Kulezizinsuku siphila ngaphansi kwengcindezi nobuhlungu esibhekene nabo ngenxa yesifo sokhuvethe eselihlukumeze cishe wonke umuntu okhona emhlabeni jikelele. Uhulumeni wa KwaZulu-Natali uzimisele ukuletha intuthuko emphakathini, yingakho kumele sisebenzisane ndawonye ngasosonke isikhathi silwe nobugebengu obukhona emphakathini.”

UMphathiswa uqhubeke wathi, “Ngenyanga ezayo sizobe siphumile futhi siye kwesinye isifunda ngayo inhloso yokuyohlola izidingo ngqangi zabantu ba KwaZulu-Natali.” uMshengu ube esegcizelela ukubaluleka kokuziphatha entsheni. “asihlonipheni inqgalasizinda esiyakhelwe uhulumeni siyithathe kube ngeyethu njengomphakathi siyiphathe ngezandla zombili. Nezikole asizivikele ngoba zingezethu, siziphathe kahle sizibhasobhe zihlale zizinhle ngasosonke isikhathi, ukuze nesizukulwane esizayo sizithole ziphilile izikole zethu,” kwenaba uMphathiswa, ekhuluma nomphakathi.

OPERATION SUKUMA SAKHE KWISIFUNDA SASE

THEKWINI

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MEC for Education in the KwaZulu Natal Province Mr Kwazi Mshengu doing the inspection during the

Operation Sukuma Sakhe

Community members engaging with the MEC for Education Mr Kwazi Mshengu with the

challenges they encounter in their communities

Engineers engaging MEC Mshengu on the progress

they have made during Operation Sukuma Sakhe

GALLERY

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GALLERY

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GALLERY

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